Encapsulated Capacitor Cells With MOSFET Charge Balancing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Balancing charge and discharge currents between capacitor cells with high energy densities is difficult, leading to imbalances that can cause damage and reduce the lifespan of conventional supercapacitor cells.

Innovation Solution

An energy storage system with encapsulated capacitor cells connected in series, using MOSFET-based cross-point switches and sensors to monitor and control charge balancing, allowing for rapid and accurate charge balancing through digital control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If conventional supercapacitor cells are used to store high energy density, then energy storage capacity is improved, but charge balancing becomes difficult and cell lifespan is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy storage capacityVSAvoidcharge balancing capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the energy storage function into multiple independent capacitor cells, each with its own control circuitry. This segmentation allows individual monitoring and control of each cell's charge state, enabling precise charge balancing while maintaining high overall energy storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback monitoring of voltage, current, and charge state for each capacitor cell. Based on this feedback, the control system dynamically adjusts charging and discharging operations to maintain charge balance across all cells, preventing imbalances that would otherwise reduce lifespan.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional capacitor cells are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but charge balancing speed is slow and accuracy is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidcharge balancing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Each capacitor cell is equipped with embedded control circuitry that autonomously manages its own charge balancing operations. This self-service capability eliminates the need for complex external balancing equipment, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving rapid and accurate charge balancing through distributed intelligence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If conventional capacitor cells are used, then device structure is simpler, but charge balancing accuracy deteriorates over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice structureVSAvoidcharge balancing accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual or mechanical charge balancing methods with digital control and monitoring systems. Sensors and microcontrollers continuously measure electrical parameters and automatically adjust charging/discharging operations, achieving high precision charge balancing accuracy without significantly increasing overall device structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20250309661A1Capacitor cell based energy storage system, method of charge balancing, encapsulated capacitor cell, and encapsulated solid state capacitor cell

Publication Date: 2025.10.02 ENERCAP ENERGY HOLDING LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure provides an energy storage system, device, and method of operating thereof. The device includes multiple capacitor cells, e.g., encapsulated capacitor cells, connected in series. A MOSFET-based, cross-point switch can be connected to the individual capacitor cells to manage balancing. Sensors can monitor the individual capacitor cells and provide data to a processor that determines instructions for the array of switches and individual capacitor cells. The capacitor cells can include capacitors based on solid-state dielectrics. A method of charge balancing, e.g., charge balancing with the energy storage device or system, can include sending instruction to a digital control port embedded within each capacitor cell.